Thankfulness

Tomorrow is the first day of November and the year 2020 is almost over! For some it a time to tear down while for others a time to build! Each season has a reason for us to grow closer to God as He refines us. I recently learned tearing down and building up can’t be done at the same time! The more you try to do both, the longer it takes because you can’t be in two places at once! Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 NIV “There is a time for everything,and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. With all the craziness and hard challenges this year, We can choose to focus On God’s goodness and be thankful! We need to remind each other daily! Every gift from God is perfect and I’m so thankful for Jesus and my family! ““Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”‭‭James‬ ‭1:17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Philippians 4:4-7 NIV “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. When we put all of this verse into action by practicing what we have learned each day, our minds will be renewed daily! In Romans 12:2 NIV, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is his good, pleasing and perfect will. When we choose to rejoice in the Lord always, even in the good and the bad we are allowing our minds to be renewed. When we are thankful, it’s choosing to live out trusting God completely! We will have peace knowing God has everything in control. We are living out what we believe to be true, that He works out all things for good for those who are called according to His purpose! It’s not easy and we need help! God is with us always and has created us in His image to be in relationship with our sisters and brothers! We need to pray continually and make requests known to God! The more we choose to be thankful, the stronger we will be in the Lord as the peace of God pours into your life! It won’t make sense to the world around you! It doesn’t come easy sometimes because we live in a fallen world and there are a lot of bad things happening all around us! Also, people are going through hard circumstances too! We can easily get overwhelmed with the cares of each day along with unexpected events! We lose track of time and don’t meet our own expectations. Being thankful in all circumstances, especially when we’re having a bad day is living out trusting the Lord with all your hearts! Our mind and hearts will be guarded because we will choose to rejoice in the Lord and be thankful! We need to put into practice by doing what we have learned in scripture! In Philippians 4:9, “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”

God’s plans for our whole life are good, even when things in life are hard and challenging. We can trust God with all of our heart because His plans will never change! Psalms 33:11 NIV, “But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.” He keeps all his promises and doesn’t want anyone to be lost! 2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” I’m so thankful for His patience, love and Mercy! God loves everyone and wants every person to be in a relationship with Jesus! I’m so thankful that our heavenly father will never leave us or forsake us!

When we focus on all the goodness, we can see where it comes from! The goodness comes from God! So,we need to put into practice thankfulness by doing the opposite of complaining about what’s bad around us by not letting it consume us, like Covid, or Mask mandates. We need to stay united in the body of Christ and pray continually in every situation! We need to keep in relationship and in the word (scripture)! We need to make a choice daily! Do I focus on what is good or do I focus what is not? It doesn’t mean ignoring what’s going on around me, it just means to choose to be thankful no matter what! Even in the midst of our troubles like a fallen trees, floods, fires, moving during thanksgiving or Christmas and much more! When we focus on a speck of light in the dark, it will only get brighter, but if you focus on all the darkness it will only get darker and consume you! The light is peace given to us from God and nothing can take that a way from you! It’s a gift from God! The moon and stars give us light and we can stand firm in truth given to us in scripture, knowing His love endures forever because God is love! Psalms 136:7-9 NIV “who made the great lights—His love endures forever. the sun to govern the day, His love endures forever. the moon and stars to govern the night; His love endures forever. I’m thankful because His love endures forever and nothing can or will separate you from the love of God for those who believe in Jesus, God’s only son, who saved us from death and gave us life by dying on the cross for our sins! He is raised to life on the third day and is alive at the right hand of God! Jesus is the light of the world who came to save us because He loves us deeply! Fix your eyes on Jesus the author and perfecter of your faith! We need to stay in the word of God and read the Bible! 2 Timothy 1:13-14 NIV “What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.”

*A Grateful heart is a happy heart! Because Jesus has overcome darkness!